In Sermon Illustrations: "Living In Sin"

The Night Before

Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Aug 1, 2011

THE NIGHT BEFORE Jesus saw what was coming by way of the cross...Jesus saw the beating of the Roman whip with the metal attached to the ends that would rip the skin from the victims back. Beaten beyond recognition and could barely see to carry an old wooden cross to die on. That night before: He ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26, Luke 22:44

Tags: Jesus, Blood, Prayer, Gethsemane, Forgive, Blood Of Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

The Path Of Rescue—follow The Light

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

THE PATH OF RESCUE--FOLLOW THE LIGHT Bob Russell shared an interesting illustration about darkness and light several years back with the Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. He said: "Every once in a while we get a bird inside this sanctuary. He doesn't really want to be in here, but ...read more

Scripture: John 8:12

Tags: Salvation

Stain Removal: Homeboy Industries

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Sep 9, 2011

STAIN REMOVAL: HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES Father Greg Boyle is in the business of erasing the past. A Jesuit priest, he is the founder and director of Homeboy Industries in East Los Angeles. Father Boyle put together a team of physicians trained in the laser technology of tattoo removal. The team is ...read more

Tags: Blood Of Christ

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Return To The Right Path

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 8, 2012

RETURN TO THE RIGHT PATH In one section of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Christian and Hopeful are walking the King's Highway to the Celestial City. The path, once smooth and easy, becomes rough and hard. Then they come to an attractive place called Bypath Meadow. They climb over a fence into ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 4:20-28

Tags: Doubt

Starting Over

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 11, 2017

The term “Sunk costs” is an accounting term. It refers to historical costs that no longer have relevance to decisions being made today. Ali Saam (Garcia) and his stock market losses. He had over $140,000 in stocks. Then, two weeks later his portfolio was down to $77,000. He felt he couldn’t sell ...read more

Tags: Starting Over, Born Again

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Justification, Propitiation, And The Very Early Church

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 30, 2019

The early church understood propitiation, the atoning work of Jesus, and justification by faith, not works: from The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, Chapter IX, about 200 A.D. But when our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward, punishment and death, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-31, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Tags: Atonement, Cross, Justification, Propitiation, Reformation, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Reformers, Penal Atonement  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Trust Issues

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jul 18, 2022

John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. As I ...read more

Scripture: John 2:23-25

Tags: Trust, Opposition, Betrayal, Brethren, Opposers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Orders Remain Unchanged!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Jan 10, 2023

There is a tomb of unknown soldiers in America which has a guard 24 hours a day. Every hour on the hour, 365 days a year, a new soldier reports for duty. When the new guard arrives, he receives his orders from the one who is leaving. The words are always the same: “Orders Remain Unchanged.” The ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Holy Spirit, Missions, Revival, Witnessing, Great Commission  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Great Thing In This World Is Not So Much ...  PRO

Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Apr 17, 2002

“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it—but we ...read more

Tags: Leadership General, Growth In Christ

Denomination: Pentecostal

A Pompous-Looking Deacon Was Trying To Impress ...  PRO

Contributed by John Beehler on Oct 29, 2002

A pompous-looking deacon was trying to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. "Why do people call me a Christian?" the man asked. After a moment’s ...read more

Tags: Love Of The Disciples, Apologetics General

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

For The Sake Of Each Of Us He Laid Down His ...

Contributed by Herman Abrahams on Jun 29, 2005

For the sake of each of us he laid down his life—worth no less than the universe. He demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other. - St. Clement of Alexandria. [Galaxie ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness For Others

Denomination: Charismatic

George Barna Says, "As Long As Churches Measure ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 27, 2006

George Barna says, “As long as churches measure success on the basis of popularity and efficiency, we will continue to see a nation filled with people who can recite Bible stories but fail to live ...read more

Tags: Bible Influence

Ah! If Our Likeness To God Does Not Show Itself ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 17, 2006

Ah! If our likeness to God does not show itself in trifles, what is there left for it to show itself in? For our lives are all made up of trifles. The great things come three or four of them in the seventy ...read more

Tags: Character

No Sacrifice Too Great

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A famous missionary by the name of C. T. Studd said; “If Jesus Christ be God, and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.” Mother Teresa once said, “if ...read more

Tags: Giving General

In The Din And Roar Of This Busy Worlds Call ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 12, 2007

"In the din and roar of this busy worlds call for attention, will we, like the innkeeper of old, be too busy to see the star and hear the chorus of angels, and worship the Christ Child?True Christmas comes to all who amid the ...read more

Tags: Christmas

Warren Wiersbe Said, "Do Not Say, Why Were The ...

Contributed by David Rumley on Apr 16, 2009

Warren Wiersbe said, "Do not say, Why were the former days better than these? You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rear view mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor ...read more

Tags: Forgiveness General

Denomination: Pentecostal

Losing Your Breath

Contributed by Charles Wallis on Sep 22, 2009

LOSING YOUR BREATH Have you ever lost your breath? Anyone who has asthma or knows someone with Asthma knows how scary it can be to lose your breath. We have the same ...read more

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Atonement In Jesus Christ's Blood Is ...  PRO

Contributed by David Tack on Nov 24, 2011

"The atonement in Jesus Christ’s blood is perfect; there isn’t anything that can be added to it. It is spotless, impeccable, flawless. It is perfect as God is perfect." Ref: Tozer, A.W. The Radical ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:1-7

Tags: Atonement

Denomination: Baptist

Drifting

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 15, 2019

DRIFTING On the river there is a place near rapids of waterfalls called the point of no return let’s take an imaginary journey down a seemingly peaceful river where you are lulled almost to the point of being asleep. We are ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 1:28

Tags: Drifting, Asleep

Denomination: Pentecostal

Why We Hide

Contributed by David Dunn on Nov 12, 2025

Think about a little boy who breaks a lamp in the living room. What does he do? He hides under the bed. Mom still knows. The lamp is still broken. But shame ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8, Psalm 32:3

Tags: Shame, Hiding

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist